Memory management in C?

[dakom]

It seems that at least two implementations require a builtin memory management solution.

• Typescript: https://github.com/SodiumFRP/sodium-typescript/blob/master/src/lib/sodium/Vertex.ts
• Rust: https://github.com/SodiumFRP/sodium-rust/blob/master/src/sodium/gc.rs

Question... would it make sense to have a generic solution for all languages that require this, with a standard API, written in C?

My feeling is that most languages have some way of interfacing with that - e.g. typescript via emscripten/webassembly and rust via c bindings (or an api abstraction)

Just curious

[the-real-blackh]

C++ also needs such a solution. It isn't implemented yet.

If it were to be done, the way to do it would be the whole implementation of Node/Vertex including the garbage collector. But I don't like the idea of bringing C into other languages due to the complexity added by doing so. It seems to me the time would be better spent developing a test suite for Node/Vertex.

[clinuxrulz]

The real difficulty is Rust/C++ have stack-based allocation, and JavaScript/TypeScript do not. So js/ts can not use the strategy used in Rust. Rust/C++ can use the strategy used in js/ts but then you'll be forced to listen to all your sodium objects.

[clinuxrulz]

Stack-based allocation allows sodium objects that are sitting on the stack to be rooted as well in the GC. (It allows us to know they are in use)

[dakom]

OK closing this for now... I tried learning more about whether or not WebAssembly changes things... scrolled through some of this page and gave up: http://lambda-the-ultimate.org/node/5349

Interesting stuff in that thread though, worth checking out for anyone who's interested in this space.